Navigating life’s journey through obedience

[The Glory Unveiled]

And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: [ Genesis 26:2 KJV ]

Abraham and Isaac have humility and obedience in common. Abraham moved in obedience to God’s word from his father’s house to the land God showed him. In our anchor chapter, a severe famine struck the land where Isaac resided, leading him to consider going to Egypt for better prospects. However, God instructed him to stay, emphasizing the importance of listening to divine guidance to avoid life’s tragedies. Unfortunately, many individuals neglect seeking God’s opinion, relying solely on their perceived logical thinking. Even among those who seek God’s guidance, disobedience often occurs, possibly due to the seemingly illogical nature of divine instructions. Despite this, God’s guidance consistently works for our well-being. Understanding what to do and when is the key to a victorious life. Genesis 26:12 illustrates Isaac’s obedience, as he sowed in a seemingly unproductive land, reaping a hundredfold blessing in the same year. This success stemmed from being precisely where God intended him to be. Following God’s instructions, even when they appear perplexing, leads to unparalleled results. Walking in the light of divine guidance is crucial for receiving God’s promises, as their fulfillment depends on our obedience to His instructions. Discover what God is communicating to you in the present moment and act on I t.

Prayer_Bead: Kind and gracious Lord, thank you for your guidance and your love. Help me to walk in the light of your leading.

Wisdom_Quote: Walk in the voice of God’s guidance.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Temptation’s Red Zones.

[The Glory Unveiled]

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. [ Genesis 2:16-17 KJV ]

Nothing entices a person into the land of no return like gullibility. Temptations will inevitably arise, but being gullible propels us toward that irreversible place. Lucifer, driven by gullibility, coveted what was not rightfully his and found himself in the land of no return. Similarly, Adam and Eve had the freedom to partake of any tree, except one. Despite the abundance of alternatives, they succumbed to temptation. Joseph, entrusted with everything in his master’s house, except the wife of his master. A temptation is a force that draws us toward the prohibited. In the moment, it may seem like the sole solution to fulfilling our needs, but obtaining it often results in losing everything else. Just like Adam and Eve were tempted and deceived into thinking the forbidden tree was better than the trees they were permitted to eat from, only to learn too late that they lost everything when they chased their appetite. It is prudent to identify and understand what God has deemed off-limits. Our ignorance often leads us to pursue the forbidden. Recognize that God’s restrictions are for our well-being, safeguarding our future. Joseph wisely acknowledged his limitations to Mrs. Potiphar (Genesis 39:9), illustrating that our knowledge of permissible boundaries forms a secure zone. Let us dwell within the boundary of the safe zone God prepared for us in His wisdom.

Prayer_Bead: Almighty God, thank you for teaching me to identify temptation’s red zones. Help me to stay away from what is wrong. In Jesus name. Amen.

Wisdom_Quote: A temptation is a pull or a push towards the one thing you are forbidden to have.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Mirroring Jesus

[The Glory Unveiled]

“For me to live is Christ [His life in me], and to die is gain [the gain of the glory of eternity].” [ ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬ ‭AMPC‬‬ ]

The believer does not have a life of their own because, technically, every believer is a living dead human. Their old self died with Christ on the cross, and the only person who is legally permitted to live is Christ, who resurrected. This means that our lives become a shadow of the life of Jesus, a reflection of His life. Intentionally, our lives can be a mirror reflection of the life of Jesus. A mirror reflects only the objects in front of it. Similarly, for our lives to mirror Jesus, we must stay close to Him. In other words, the Lord Jesus must be present in our lives if we are to reflect Him to our world. This brings us to the foundation of the Christian faith—the Lord Jesus as Lord in our lives, our lives submitted to Him in all things. The disciples were referred to as the lookalikes of Jesus because they stayed with Him. When we let Jesus live through us, our own lives disappear. Thus, when we let go of what we are, we become what we might be. God’s original picture of us is Christ Jesus. Hence, we become who we are supposed to be when we bear the image of Jesus. And we bear the image of Jesus only when we absorb His identity in our relationship with Him. And in this relationship, we cannot call the shots of our lives anymore. We are merely living out the instructions and desires of another, Jesus Christ. Let Jesus be seen through you (the body He has saved).

Prayer_Bead: Lord of the universe, thank you for the privilege to live your life and manifest your glory.

Wisdom_Quote: You become what you might be when you let go of what you are.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Heart and soul in service

[The Glory Unveiled]

“Put your heart and soul into every activity you do, as though you are doing it for the Lord himself and not merely for others.” [ Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬TPT‬‬ ]

Our anchor scripture is the formula for achieving great exploits and significant growth. The price for great things is giving your all. When we give our hearts and souls to something, the result is usually remarkable. The greatest results come from anything we do with all of our hearts and souls, but it is more rewarding when we are motivated to do it for the Lord. Love is one of the basic tenets of the Christian faith, and helping people sits at the center of it all. The Lord Jesus exemplified it when He died for us. We have been shown how we ought to do everything: as if we were doing it for the Lord and not for people. Motivated by God, we can put our hearts and souls into whatever we do. Nehemiah was one man who was moved in heart and soul to rebuild the temple and wall of his city. The result was incredible. Nobody could stop him, not even his enemies nor his friends. He succeeded eventually because his heart and soul were into it. The Lord Jesus invested his heart and soul into his assignment, the purpose of his life. The result is the reason we are saved. There is so much we can do in the name of the Lord if we do it with our hearts and souls. “His disciples remembered that it is written: ‘Zeal for your house will consume me’” (John 2:17). Passion is the force that drives potential success into true success. Let passion lead you in the service of God.

Prayer_Bead: Compassionate Father, thank you for your compassion, your grace and your love.

Wisdom_Quote: The true cost of exploit is heart and soul.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.

Bringing newfound vision.

[The Glory Unveiled]

He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” [ John 9:25 NIV ]

In the human world, your identity matters less to people than what you do for them. Typically, people are more concerned about what they receive from you than who you are. The blind man healed by Jesus didn’t know doctrines or religious rituals; he lacked knowledge about Jesus. However, he was acutely aware of his blindness, and after encountering Jesus, his restored sight became more significant to him than others’ opinions about Jesus, as clarified in the account. The multitude followed Jesus primarily for food, receiving bread and fish. Yet, beyond sustenance, our capacity to gain enlightenment after an encounter is paramount. Moses’ face radiated after his encounter with God. We must carry such value that people are transformed after meeting us. The lasting impact is not in our name but in the ability of others to see differently after encountering us. Like the blind man who proclaimed, “I was blind, but now I see,” if people can confidently declare newfound vision after meeting us, then the kingdom of God is manifest through us. Jesus asserted to the Pharisees that if He drove out demons (performed miracles) by the Holy Spirit, the kingdom of heaven had come to them (Matthew 12:28). Bring the kingdom of heaven to your world.

Prayer_Bead: Gracious Father, thank you for the privilege to bring the kingdom of heaven to many people. Let your name be glorified.

Wisdom_Quote: In the long run, people only hold on to what you did for them.

#GNews: Unveiling the glory of God.